Crutch



1m. 27, i925. v 1,524,521

F. R. L ANZILLOTTA CRUTCH.

Filed Feb. 11, 1924 FIG. 5. f:v 7

.Patented Jan. 27, i925,

UNITED STATES amsn FRANK B. LNZILLOTTA, OF LYNCI-L KENTUCKY.

CRUTCH Application filed. February 11, 1931i,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it lrnown that I, FRANK R. IJANZIL- Lo'r'rs, a citizen ot the United States ot America, residing at Lynch, in the county of, I-Iarlan and State ot Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in crutches.

It is well known to those 'familiar with the use ot crutches that the same, during use, are moved in arcuate paths or swung about itulcrum points and that the said tulcrum points are usually the arm pits of the user. This swinging or pivoting ot a crutch causes the head portion to rub the arm pit and this rubbing action quickly damages the users clothing and also chates his boc y, thereby, forming tleshburns or sores.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a crutch that will prevent chaiing ot the arm pits oit' the user and will also insure against the usual damaging of his clothes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational vicw ot' the upper portion ot a crutch and illustrates in dotted lines the adaptability ol the shaft portion to move in respect to the auxiliary head portion,

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of Fig. l,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view ot the head portion ot the crutch shown in Fig. l and taken upon line III- III ot that ligure,

Figure l is a top plan View ot the head portion of the crutch illustrated in Fig. 1,

Figure 5 is a partly sectional view, partly top plan view taken upon line V-V of Fig. l, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the head portion and auxiliary head portion of the crutch embodying this invention.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodi- Serial No. 692,077.

ment ot this invention, the numeral 5 designates the staff portion of the crutch which is ot the usual or more popular form, to wit: the split stat?. Permanently secured to the upper ends ot this split staif 5 is the stationary, arcuately formed head portion 6 which is provided with a dove-tail-shaped, longitudinally extending groove 7 which is of arcuate outline to contorni. with the general shape et the head 6. It is to be understood that this dove-tailshaped groove 7 is open at each end and is also open at its inner periphery.

Longitudinally slidably associated with the stationary head portion 6 is the movable` auxiliary head portion 8 which formed with the dove-tail-shaped, arcuate rib 9, as illustrated. It is to be understood that this dove-tail-shaped rib 9 is to be slidably retained within the dove-tail-shaped groove 7 formed in the head 6. At one end oi this auxiliary head portion 8, the same projects laterally, as at 10, beyond the opposite side walls of the dove-tail-shaped rib 9 tor the purpose of engaging the end wall ll of the head portion 6 to limit the sliding movement of the auxiliary head portion 8 in one direction. The opposite end oit the auxiliary head portion 8 is provided with a removable block 12 which limits the movement of the said head portion 8 in the opposite direction and provides means, when removed :tor permitting the dove-tailshaped rib 9 to be inserted withinv the dovetail-shaped groove 7.

For the purpose of permitting tree relative movement between the head portion 6 and the auxiliary head portion 8, ball bearings 13, best illustrated in Figs. l and 3, are provided and substantially carried by the head portion 6, but projecting a suiiicient distance therefrom to engage the under surfaces ot the auxiliary head portion 8.

In Fig. l the auxiliary head portion 8 is shown in full lines in one position while the head portion 6 and split staff 5 are shown in full lines in one position and in dotted lines in a different position. This is intended to illustrate the broad utility of the invention which consists of means for preventing chang of the users armpits and his clothing directly associated therewith by providing an auxiliary head portion 8 that will remain stationary in respect to the arn'i pit and permitted to more in respect to the head portion 6 and the split staff In other Words, the portion engaging the users clothing and bearing against his arm- 5 pit is the auiliar)7 head portion 8, which remains stationary in respect thereto. The head portion G and staff 5 will be swungr around the auxiliary head portion S for permitting the usual swingingT or fulerurning 10 of the eruteh staff.

i3 size and arrangement of )arts inaf7 he re- 3 t .l

sorted to without departing` from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the suhjoined claim.

Haring thus described the invention, T Claim The combination With a crutch top haring its upper surface in the forni ot a Ciroular are and provided with a dovetail groom extending the full length ot the top to open at each end, an arm support ha\f'ing an arcuate under surface provided with a dovetail tongue and conforming` in shape to thel grooved surface of the crutch top to fit eloselgv thereto throughout its length, said support being|` longer than the crutch top` and stop members fixed to the ends of said support to engage the ends of the crutch top and limit its movement.

In {estimen}v whereof l a'llix my signature.

FRANK R. LANZILLOTITA. 

